Jouney to the Center of the Earth.

In Jules Verne's book, Journey to the Center of the Earth, the German professor and his party travel to the center of the earth via volcano tubes. Yesterday, some friends and I traveled similarly, except we traveled via a cave and only went a few dozen feet below the surface.

Yesterday we traveled to Longhorn Cavern State Park. Our journey began in Austin and we traveled to the park via US 183, TX 29, and US 281. At the junction of TX 29 and US 281 lies the town of Burnet. My friend Chris, the driver of the vehicle, maintains a collection of county courthouses, so we stopped so he could photograph the Burnet County Courthouse.





We also attempted to visit TeaLicious, but it was a sit down restaurant and we didn't have the time. So instead we went to the antique shop.



We then continued to the park.

Our first stop was the visitor center to purchase our tickets. Tickets were $12.99/person, with a $1 discount for active duty military. Tours are every hour from 10AM-4PM on Saturday's, and vary on other days, so be sure to check the schedule on their website.

Since we had 55 minutes to kill until our 2PM tour, we explored the park. We found lots of interesting buildings built by the CCC in the 30's.

The CC Pavilion includes an exhibit on the CCC.




This observation tower was built by the CCC. The sign said it was built for water and observation.




After exploring the buildings, it was time to explore the cave. We headed to meet our tour guide, Josh.



Josh briefing us before we entered the cave.

One of the things he told us about was how Sam Bass had hidding $2 million in the cave that was never found. He said if we found it that he would be happy to split it 60/40 with us. Well the kid in yellow was pretty smart and realized that that meant the guide was taking a larger cut of the treasure. He called Josh out and said that it should be 50/50. Josh disagreed so the kid in yellow threw a rock at him.

The rock slinger


The main reason you need the guide is that he has the key.

Josh led us into the cave and we spent about 1.5 hours on the tour. Many of the formations are below.

Formations

Abe Lincoln.

The Wishing Well. They use to let you throw pennies in it, but the copper was contaminating underground water sources.


Sam Bass' Bootprint

Bear nose. They let you rub the bear nose, which is why it is darker.

Calcite crystals.

My favorite formation, the rockweiler!

Whale flipper.




One interesting tidbit about the cave, it is supposedly haunted. Now I do not claim to believe in ghosts or the paranormal, but there is certainly things that occur that we cannot explain. I use to not even want to hear about this stuff, but recently have been listening to Coast to Coast AM, a late night radio show that explores the paranormal. Because I listened to it, it has made me more interested in hearing the stories. Longhorn Cavern has some stories.

The first story we heard was by the gentleman in the visitor center. He told us that he once saw a lady in a white party dress. He didn't know who she was but knew she was a ghost.

The other story we heard was by Josh, our tour guide. He said he was changing light bulbs in the cave once and was the only one in the cave and had locked the gate. While changing light bulbs, he was hit in the head with a rock. I inquired if it might have been the kid in yellow.

Everyone made it out of the cave, but saw no dinosaurs, treasure, or ghosts.

Sometimes The Good Guy Wins

I have recently been reading a book by Peter Freuchen called Men of the Frozen North.


It is a collection of short stories, both true and fiction, about Indians, trappers, and explores of the Arctic. I read one of the stories yesterday and really enjoyed it.

The story was about a Canadian police post. At the post was the commander of the post, his wife, and another member of the police force. The story opens with the barracks burning down. The wife tells her husband that there are some important letters in her room that he must get. He had seen these letters before, she had them the entire time they had been married. She would never tell him what they were about or allow him to read them. Being the good guy he was, he ran into the burning building, risking his life to get the letters. While trying to escape the building, he notices that one of the envelopes has burned enough for him to see that the letter is signed by a gentleman of the name of Marksmann. He successfully brings the letters to hier

Because the barracks have been destroyed, his wife heads south to the city to wait until he can send for her when the station is rebuilt. His partner escorts her to the town. A few days later, he hears the report on the radio that his wife made it to the town and was picked up by a man by the name of Marksmann. He becomes furiours and asks his partner when he returns all about the gentleman. The wife has sent a letter which the husband reads. The letter only says that she wants for him to wait for her but she may be gone a while. Frurious and thinking that his wife has left him for Marksmann, he leaves the post and heads to find the couple. After traveling a few days by dog sled, he comes across a small camp. Walking into the tent, he finds his wife and Marksmann. He demands an explanation and announces his intent to kill Marksmann if his assumption is correct. His wife asks him what is going on and he tells her that he saw the name on the letter and thinks that she is leaving. Marksmann stands up to defuse the situation saying that he is her cousin and that she is an heir to a very large estate. His wife tells him that the letters were the documents proving she was an heir. She tells him that she wanted the letters so bad because she wanted to make sure she got the inheritance to share with him.

Though he ended up with his foot in his mouth, the good guy won in the end.

It reminds me of the times I have put my foot in my mouth. Just a few days ago I was having lunch with a friend. I was lamenting about these trinkets that I kept receiving as gifts. When we were leaving, she said she had a gift for me in her car. I walk over to her car and she has one of these trinkets. Now I really did like the gift and it was different from the ones I kept receiving, but talk about a moment of awkwardness.

Several years ago, a friend of mine and I were hanging out Christmas night and were going to exchange gifts. I was complaining to her about how I had received boxers for Christmas. She was complaining about a pair of sandles. When then exchanged gifts. What did she give me? A pair of boxers. What did I give her? Those sandles but in brown. At least we all lost on that one.

I met a guy a few months ago who was involved in student government at my college. When I found out he was in it, I went into a short lecture about how I thought it was a horrible group that should be disbanded. I then asked him what he did in the student government. Turns out he was the student body president. Opps!

I do a good job of inserting my foot into my mouth. One of these days I am bound to win!

Return to Where you Once Were

Andrew Thompson has an article in the UM Reporter in his weekly column, Gen-X Rising. This column is called "The Church's First Mission." It can be read here.

The column is a criticism of the current individualistic stance taken by the United Methodist church and encourages it to return to its roots of scriptural holiness.

Thompson begins with a quote from H. Richard Niebuhr about the mainline Protestant view of the coming kingdom of God. "A God without wrath brought men without sin into a kingdom without judgment through the ministrations of a Christ without a cross.” This is quite an insult, but makes quite a point about the current stance of the church. As Thompson continues, he looks at how the UMC has moved from proclaiming the gospel to championing social issues. As a result of losing our focus on the gospel, the church is decaying.

The church, according to Thompson, has become a microcosm of society, focused on the individual. When are touchy-feely "Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors" campaign, we invite all to our church without the risk of being called out. It is good for all people to be welcomed into our churches, Jesus certainly didn't turn anyone away because they were too sinful or not a certain dynamic, but he also didn't leave them as sinners. He preached the good news to them, that the kingdom of God had drawn near and for them to repent of their sins and to follow Him. Now, we just say that the kingdom of God has drawn near, let's try to get our facebook group to 1,000,000 fans. The pastor at a church I use to attend even commented once in a sermon that as United Methodists we don't like to talk about sin and to go across the street to the Baptists if you wanted to hear about sin. We have grasped society's belief that all people have the right to believe what they want and that all are right.

The future of the UM Church has been analyzed by many. The numbers indicate that church population is getting older and smaller. I am not going to go into detail here, so we will just leave it at that. The pastor at the church that I use to attend sort of wrote off the future of the church saying that all organizations come to an end. Others have begun to look out how the United Methodists can control our future. A desire of many has been for the church to once again be a movement. That is how the church was originally founded, a movement within the Anglican church that only became an independent church because of the American Revolution causing the Anglican church to stop sending pastors to America.

Thompson says that in order to return to the movement that Methodism once was, we must return to the examples set forth by Wesley and his scriptual way of salvation. Our first and foremost message must be the gospel, bringing salvation to people. It is amazing the number of times I have attended United Methodist churches and never heard the basic gospel message be taught. Thompson encourages us to take preaching the gospel as seriously as the circuit riders once did who because of their convictions risked their lives traveling across the American frontier to spread the message about sin and salvation. In order to receive the gospel message, that Jesus is our savior, one must acknowledge that they need a savior. We must admit that we are sinful. That means we must actually talk about sin in our church and not just leave it up to the Baptist. Once we have embraced the gospel message and repented of our sins, the holiness of Christ will become evident in our lives. The gospel message is so powerful that it can transform our lives as we move toward perfection in Christ.

Individuals come to God, but it is usually in community, the community of the church. If the United Methodist church desires to continue to be relevant in the future, it must give up its individualistic tendencies and spread scriptural holiness by starting with the gospel.

Country Gospel

A few weeks ago I was listening to the country show Mountain Stage on the radio. One of the guests on the show was Dierks Bentley. He played several songs off of his latest album, released in 2009, Feel That Fire. One of the songs he played was Better Believer




You can read the lyrics here.

What a great song! The song is about a person who, like many of us, only turns to God when things are going bad. When times are good, we tend to lose focus of God and He becomes an afterthought. Realizing the error in this, Bentley says in the chorus

A better believer would look to the skies
And shout "hallelujah" with tears in his eyes
Open his heart and start givin it all away
When I take a hard look at myself
And count my blessings I can't but help
But wonder if there's been some kind of mistake
This life of mine should belong to a better believer

The message is two fold in the song. We fail to look to God when times are good and God has blessed us beyond belief.

First, our failure to look to God when times are good. It seems easier to call on God when times are bad because we are in need of him. However, Paul tells us in 1st Thessalonians 5:16-18, "Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." Paul uses the words always, without ceasing, in everything, instructing us to always remember God and to focus on Him. In Deuteronomy 6, when God is giving commandments to the Israelites, he tells them "These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontals on your forehead. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates." God wants us to remember Him at all times. He encourages, indeed instructs us to do things so that we are constantly reminded of Him and His words.

But how easy it is to forget Him when times are good! When things are hard, I remember Him constantly because I am in need and calling on Him. But when times are good, it is much harder. Do whatever it takes to remember God daily. If it takes binding his words on your hand and writing them on your door, then so be it.

Second, God has blessed us beyond what we deserve. When I look at my life, I deserve very little. But God has blessed me tremendously. He has provided me a job that I want. I am able to go out and do what I want on a daily basis for fun. I live in the greatest country. I have friends who care about me. I am able to contact a good friend of mine who lives half a world away instantaneously. I am able to complain that I have to spend $0.12/min to talk to her. I lack for nothing and need from no one. I am able to provide for myself and others. I live in safety. What have I done to have this? Surely God meant for so many of these blessings to go to someone else, someone more deserving. Surely he did.

With all I've got to be thankful for
I should be doing so much more
I know

But it's my right!

Today I was reading The Daily Texan, which is the university newspaper for the University of Texas. One article I was reading was headlined Local church accepts members of all sexual orientations, by Roxanna Asgarian. I am not going to look at the main topic of this article, but instead focus on a specific quote in the article. This quote is by Mona West, a Biblical scholar.

“Biblical scholars and translators have traditionally been white, European, heterosexual males, but where are our voices? Each of us has our own authority and right to interpret scripture.”

I disagree with West on her statement. I do not believe that we are granted the right to interpret scripture on our own authority.

In John 16:12-13, Jesus speaks to his disciples saying, "I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come."
We see that it is the Spirit, the very spirit of God that he gives to his people, that gives us our interpretation.

In 1st Corinthians 2: 9-16, Paul writes "However, as it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him"-- but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man's spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words. The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man's judgment: "For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him?" But we have the mind of Christ."
Once again we see that our understanding of God and indeed life comes by the Spirit of God. We understand and interpret not on our own authority, but on the authority of the Spirit. If I interpret because of my own authority, I interpret as a foolish person because I do not have the understanding of the original author's (God) mind and intent. When we read literature, we interpret based on our understanding. Often times this differs from the author's intent. While sometimes this is not bad, God does not desire that we understand things differently than from his intent. Therefore, he has given us the Spirit which teaches and instructs us. Indeed I can now interpret scripture because I am looking at it not from my perspective but from God's because I am looking at it through the mindset given to me by the Spirit.

Are there various interpretations? Certainly. But only one is worth pursuing when it comes to something as important as God and that is his interpretation.
Are there various applications? Certainly. When Jesus told the apostles to go to throughout all the world making disciples, they went to different places and spread the Gospel of Jesus in various ways. They were all correct. They also had the same interpretation of the words of Jesus. The Spirit, which they received shortly after at Pentecost, provided the interpretation.

The Bible is a collection of revelations, teachings, commands, prophecies, instructions, and stories that have been collected and passed down to us by those who followed God before us. We can be certain that the Bible is accurate to when it was written by because of the reseach by people much more qualified than me. We should look at the Bible by asking the original author, God, what it means.

Kayaking Town Lake

Last friday I went kayaking on Town Lake. I used the same rental place that I used when I went the week before.

My trip took me from the MOPAC bridge to the Tom Mill dam and back. When paddling upstream, there is an island before the dam. I took the left hand route (when facing upsteam) going up and the other side when coming down. I felt that though my route had me go up a narrow route, that it was slightly easier because I wasn't in the main current.

There are several houses that line Town Lake, though they are mainly up on the cliffs. Neat view, but hopefully they have access to the lake.

View looking upstream. The island is around the bend.
This turtle is the only one who stayed on the rock. There were 4 turtles, but the others jumped as I came by.
The Tom Miller Dam. On the other side of the dam is Lake Austin.
On the way back down stream, I saw these swans. I stopped and watched them for awhile. Note the three cygnets.

I am really enjoying kayaking. I've only been out three times now, but really like it. I hope to keep going about once a week.

Still haven't found what I'm looking for

U2 has a song called I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For. The version posted isn't the one I wanted, but it will suffice. The one I wanted to embed is this one. I believe the song deals with being on a spiritual journey.

I was reminded today of a post I made last October called What is Church. In the post, I wrote about finding a lack of community in churches that I had attended. I recently moved and have begun attending church in a new town. I feel that I still haven't found what I am looking for. Now some of this may be from me not knowing where to look or even spiritual immaturity keeping me from it. Whatever the reason, I still haven't found a church in the place I live with the community I am looking for.

Today I was invited to attend a church next week that may have the community I am looking for. Have I found it? Perhaps I am on the verge, but I am moving again in 7 weeks.

The Times They Are A-Changin'

My granddad is a retired naval officer. He has been retired longer than he served, so it has been many moons. After my commissioning, my dad was asking me about my military ID. The military now uses a card called the CAC, or Common Access Card.



He was asking about the chip located on it and I told him that I can insert it in a slot on the keyboard to access a computer terminal. He then asked my granddad about his card. He responded that his current and former IDs did not have the chip and that in his day they didn't have things like keyboards.

Times they are a-changin'.

Abundant Life

A few posts ago, I ended with "Give it all away, follow Christ, live life abundantly." What does it mean to do this?

First, when Christ mentions giving up all material possessions, I do not think that it means that we are to live a life of squalor. We know that Jesus certainly did. In Luke 9:58, Jesus says "Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head." We know his ministry was supported by the women who followed him, as recorded in Luke 8:1-3, Soon afterwards he went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. The twelve were with him, as well as some women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, and Joanna, the wife of Herod's steward Chuza, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their resources. Furthermore, when the rich young ruler comes to Jesus and asks "Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" Jesus responds that in addition to following the commands of God, "there is still one thing lacking. Sell all that you own and distribute the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me."

I propose an alternative, that it isn't that we are to sell everything, but submit everything to God and follow His will for our lives and our belongings. The young ruler left Christ because he couldn't give up his possessions. He valued them more than a relationship with Christ.

Christ mentioned storing treasures in heaven to the young ruler. This is also talked about in the Sermon on the Mount. Matthew 6:19-21 ""Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Jesus seems to be reminding the ruler that his treasure is not in heaven but he is more concerned with his possessions here. Christ seems to be reminding him of one of the 10 commandments, do not covet. He has a selfish desire for his own possessions. His selfishness is greater than the command Christ gives him, to give all of his possessions to the poor.

I see the message not being that our possessions are evil, but we must be willing to use them for God. We see this message echoed elsewhere in the new testament. In 1^st Timothy chapter 6:7-11, Paul writes “Of course, there is great gain in godliness combined with contentment; for we brought nothing into the world, so that we can take nothing out of it; but if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these. But those who want to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and in their eagerness to be rich some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains. But as for you, man of God, shun all this; pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, gentleness.” Paul doesn’t say that money is evil, but the love of money. The desire to acquire possessions for selfish reasons. Paul says instead of pursuing be successful in life in the terms of money, be successful by being a man of God, one who seeks to live a Godly life.

Jesus gives a similar testimony in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 6:25-34. "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? Therefore do not worry, saying, "What will we eat?' or "What will we drink?' or "What will we wear?' For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. "So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today's trouble is enough for today. Paul says if we have clothes and food, we are doing pretty good. Because we are content with what we have, we can strive for better things. The better things are living a life for God. Jesus says to not worry about clothes and food, God will provide, that life is more than these. He says to strive to live for the kingdom of God and give up striving for earthly possessions.

Having earthly possessions isn’t wrong. We need some things to survive. But placing them above our relationship with God is wrong. Jesus says in John 10:10, The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. In Christ we do have an abundant life, but that abundant life isn’t abundant of earthly possessions but of righteousness.

Justice versus Justice

This morning, while reading the news on the BBC website, I came across an article Should we Attack Intruders? The question seemed to have been raised by a man in Sudan and was posed to other Africans.

One of the responses was quite interesting.
Wishing I have access to a gun, I can afford it and can pay the license fee, but I am handicapped by the Christian doctrine of "Thou shall not kill" I have had to suffer in response to criminal activities perpetrated in Lagos, I believe the bible so much that killing over material thing which we all definitely leave someday is a hard response to intruders. "He who steals my purse steals nothing, it was mine, now his; and has been a slave to many".
Macaulay, Lagos, Nigeria

In many parts of the US, this is an easy answer, of course! It is your property and you have a right to defend your property. This is argued even from a Christian perspective.

Micah 6:8 reads He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.


What does it mean to act justly? Is carrying out justice acting justly or honoring the life of another, even if they are harming you, acting justly?

Pirates Attempt to Capture French Naval Vessel

French commandos operating from the Frigate Nivose (F-732) captured 11 Somali pirates. The pirates had mistaken the French naval warship for a merchant vessel and began to pursue it. The frigate turned into the sun to avoid identification and let the pirates close in. Commandos operating for a helicopter and outboard boats captured the pirates along with AK47 rifles and RPGs. The helicopter fired warning shots which were not returned by the pirates.

Helicopter intercepting the pirates.

FS Nivose

Captured pirates on board the Nivose.

This makes 24 pirates captured by the Nivose in the past 3 weeks. Way to go Nivose!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8031701.stm
http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/africa/05/03/kenya.pirates/
http://www.lemonde.fr/afrique/article/2009/05/03/somalie-la-marine-francaise-capture-onze-pirates_1188254_3212.html

Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge

The past two days I have gone out to the Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge. I went out to do some hiking. Pictures added June 19, 2009.

The NWR is located northwest of Austin near the town of Lago Vista. The refuge has two trails that are open to the public, on in the Warbler Vista area and the other on the Doeskin Ranch. I hiked the Doeskin Ranch on Wednesday and the Warbler Vista on Thursday.

The Doeskin Ranch is on RM 1174. I approached from the north which gives a really neat perspective. The roads wind through the Texas hill country and then all of a sudden you turn and gaze into the Canyonlands with its much steeper and taller hills.


The sign on the highway directs you to the Doeskin Ranch. When you pull in the gate, take a left into the parking lot. From there, follow the asphalt path to the bulletin boards and trail heads. There are about 5 miles of trails available. My route is described below.

Map of trails at Doeskin Ranch

I set out on the Rimrock trail, following the southern branch. The trail follows the Doeskin Branch for a short while before climbing to the rim rock. The elevation gain is a little over 200'. The trail tops out at the top of the ridge and intersects the Shin Oak Trail. Follow the Shin Oak trail to the right and continue until you intersect the Indiangrass trail. This trail drops off this ridge and climbs back up another creek. One thing of interst I noted was a firering I came across. It was along the creek and the trail climbs back up the ridge. The ring was build of rocks, full of ash, had some trash scattered about, and an orange pool raft. The trash was metal and plastic, so it was hard to age. The ranch has been property of the government since 1992, I believe, and this was certainly not a 17 year old firering. The Indiangrass trail rejoins the Shinoak trail onto of the ridge. After exploring the top of the ridge, I backtracked the Shinoak trail back to the Rimrock trail. I continued down the northern route, which follows a drainage off the ridge back to Doeskin Branch.


Upon returning to the trailhead, I followed the Prairie and Ponds trial. It is a short trail that crosses a grassy pasture and glances by a tank. The tank was built by early settlers and usually contains water. I spotted a few turtles in it. The trail is also paved from the trailhead to the tank and has a few pull offs that overlook the Doeskin Branch.


I then finished my tour with the Creek Trail. It is an interpretive trail with a brochure available at the trailhead to guide you. Be sure to begin the trail at the trailhead and not where it ends at Doeskin Branch. The trail talks about the ecology of the area and some of the history. One of the interesting stops involves a cactus growing in a tree. We had this happen on our deer lease near Conception, but that was because we chunked the cactus into the trees when clearing brush. I always found it odd when the cactus would still be alive a couple of years later.


The wildflowers were gorgious throughout the area. It was worth a trip just to see them. The area is predominantly cleared of trees, giving rise to the wildflowers. The birds were plentiful, particularly vultures riding the updrafts on the rimrock. The information at the trailhead stated that hawks pass through the area in the fall, riding the thermals. Monarches also pass through on their annual migration.



The next day I went to the Warbler Vista public use area.

Map of the Warbler Vista public use area.

The Warbler Vista area is just west of Lago Vista on RM1431. You will see a brown sign indicating the road to the "National Wildlife Refuge." Take a right onto the road and follow it to the first parking lot. This is the trailhead.

I made sort of a double headed lollipop loop out of the trails. The only reason for the second loop was to have hiked all the trails in the area. I set out on the Cactus Rock trail. It follows the rimrock of ridge and is appropriatly named as the area has an abundance of cactus. Opposite to the Doeskin Ranch, this trail remains in a mix of cedars and oaks, with very little open areas. The Cactus Rock trail meets up with the Vista Knoll trail. Besure to take the Vista Knoll Trail as the Cactus Rock trail turns and ends at the road. The Vista Knoll trail immediatly intersects the Ridgeline Trail. I would encourage you to follow the Vista Knoll trail first as it is a short 1.2 mile lollipop loop. The trail provides some decent vistas of the area, looking back to Lake Travis.

After returning to the junction of the Vista Knoll trail and the ridgeline trail. Follow the Ridgeline trail to the Sunset Deck. This deck has a few benchs which make for a great napsite. The deck overlooks a drainage that flows to the lake and faces west. I didn't get to watch the sunset as it was cloudy, but there is a parking lot next to the deck, so one could drive to the deck just for sunset. It is a place Max Stalling sings about in Skyview Cabaret.



After my nap, I followed the road back to where the Cactus Rock trail ended. I backtracked the trail back to the trail head.

If you are in Austin, I encourage you to visit this new refuge. If limited on time, visit the Doeskin Ranch. It is a prettier site between the two.

Give It All Away

Gerry Spehar wrote a song called Georgetown. The second verse of the song is

Now I heard there's a man aways up the road
He knows just how to sing and play the guitar.
Sittin’ on the edge of fame and fortune,
Could have made himself a very big star.
Ridding 'round cities in a big Cadillac
Showing all the ladies a smile.
But he took all the money and he gave it right back
Kept his happy heart awhile.

Andrew Thompson wrote a column encouraging us to do a similar thing with our belongs. His column is found in the UM Reporter.

The column talks about how the current economic downturn has gotten the attention of Americans and should remind Christians of the words of Christ. The words as recorded in Matthew 6:19, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal."

Thompson encourages us to deny ourselves and instead to pick up our cross and follow Christ. To do this, we must practice the old disciplines of scripture reading and prayer, and live a life that loves our neighbor. By given up our materialistic desires and carrying our cross daily, we will grow closer to Christ as we continue in sanctification.

Why is it that we must wait until an economic crisis to examine the materialistic lives we live? Christ doesn't tell us to only follow him when times are tough or to live the "good life." He came so that we may live life and live it abundantly, all the time. We live this life by following him. We are reminded of how futile it is to try to live our "good life" when economic downturns come and take away what we work so hard for. But when we live an abundant life in Christ, economic downturns only help to make our life better as be become more dependent on Christ.

Give it all away, follow Christ, live life abundantly.

Turn the Page

Over the past year, I have been turning the page. The last page I was on was about me being a school teacher, a high school science. The book was a Choose Your Own Adventure book. The bottom of the page said "To become Department Chair, turn to page 242. To quit teaching and join the Navy, turn to page 304." In an unusual choice, I turned to page 304. The page has finally been turned. I am now an officer in the United States Navy.

Live Simple

Today's sermon was built on giving. John Wesley talked about giving when he (supposedly) said:
"Do all the good you can,
By all the means you can,
In all the ways you can,
In all the places you can,
At all the times you can,
To all the people you can,
As long as ever you can."

He encouraged us to do more for Christ. It seems weird that by doing good to others we are doing more for Christ, but Christ tells us in Matthew 25, "Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me."

In Sermon 50, "The Use of Money," Wesley gives us some practical advise in how to live in a giving way. "Having, First, gained all you can, and, Secondly saved all you can, Then give all you can." Wesley qualified this by explaining what each, seemingly simple, step meant.

First, Gain all you can. We should earn what we can as long as what we are doing isn't harmful to our health , isn't harm to our families, and doesn't hurt others. There is nothing sinful about money, it is OK to earn and have it.

Second, Save all you can. We should live simply in order to free up money to give. It is a Christian ideal to live a simple life. We see the apostles lived simple lives. We see this as recorded in Acts 2, "42They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. 44All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. 46Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved." They sold all they had and gave to all who were in need. They saved all they could by living simple lives. This is not something that we do easily as Americans. We lack for nothing but want for much. The pastor gave an interesting observation of America when he said that it is said that necessity is the mother of invention, but in the US, invention is the mother of necessity. Take a look at a SkyMall magazine. Who on earth would need that stuff? I have never gotten up in the morning, looked in my closet, and thought "if only I had an electric tie rack." I've never taken a dog on a walk and thought "if only I had a stroller to put this dog in." Invention has become the mother of necessity.



We need to learn to live on enough. What do we need to survive? Do I need a big screen TV to survive? Am I even happy with having a small TV? Can I survive, or perhaps even do better, without having a TV? What about eating out? Can I survive not eating out? Might I be even better not eating out and instead eating at home? Would it be cheaper, healthier, and a better way to spend time? Many of the ways we spend our money are wasteful in that they do not make things better for us. Can I do without going to see a movie? Do I have to buy a new music CD every few weeks? Can I still live without staying in nice hotels when I travel? Many of the ways we spend money can be sacrificed. But there is a reason behind these sacrifices.

Third, Give all you can. By saving all the money we can, we can then give it where it is needed. On his radio show, Dave Ramsey says that the last step of his financial program is to make a bunch of money and give it all away. Waite Phillips once said that the only things we truly keep are the things we give away. The followers of Christ made sure that everyone had what they needed. When we give, not just money but our time and abilities, we need to do so with a certain attitude. Paul addresses this in 2nd Corinthians 9 when he writes"Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." It is important that we spend time in prayer to know what it is that we should give and then give so out of our love.

Ex-Atheist Reminds Us of Our Influence in the Pew

I recently (as in like an hour ago) read an article from the UM Reporter (Yes, the same people who desire us to be "one" like Lennon's song Imagine) about an ex-atheist turned United Methodist minister. The article, found here, describes the path Rev. Julian Davies took to going from being an atheistic university professor to being a United Methodist minister.

Short summary, he had not grown up in the church and knew little about Christianity. He married a Christian who wanted to have their wedding in the church she grew up in. He refused, saying that he didn't feel it was appropriate for him to stand in a church and pretend he was a Christian. She later invited him to church, to which he finally consented to because he felt it didn't have to pretend to be a believer to sit in church.

Going to church, he realized that not all Christians met the picture he had in his mind. Many were intellectual, not 'literalist' (I wish we had a better way of describing literal as in literally the word of God via the Spirit-inspired writings verses literal as in no poetry or figurative writings in the Bible), and had no idea why people did what they did in church.

One of the things that confused him was way people said "amen" at the end of prayers. He asked the person next to him, who kind of freaked out and just said "we just do, OK?" Once he had a question for the preacher in the middle of the sermon. After he raised his hand to ask it, the person next to him grasped his arm and encouraged him to not do what he was doing and to instead take a class to learn the reasons. (I really like that idea. I often have wanted to ask questions in the middle of the sermon. I instead write it down and either research it or ask the pastor after church. But wouldn't it be great to raise you hand and have the pastor call on you?)

Taking the classes, he was moved not only to faith, but also to the ministry. He now is the pastor at The University Church at the University of Toledo.

Reading the story, I thought about the influence we can have just by being in the pew. For Davies, he was confused on what to do in church, didn't know why things were done, and sought answers to his questions. He sought for these from, and ended up by guided by, the lay people.

Questions I thought of were:
1) Would a visitor know what to do in your church service?

I recently visited a UM church and went in a door that didn't have a ushered manning it, so I didn't get a bulletin. I was lost during church. I didn't know what hymns to sing unless I looked at someone's hymnal or recognized that song. I didn't know the words to the congregational prayer. I didn't know when we were suppose to stand up for various things until everyone else stood up. I didn't know this because it was assumed that I had a bulletin, therefore the pastor didn't announce hymns or when we were to stand or sit.

One of the things that really bugs me is when churches do not describe the method of communion before taking communion. For example, the first time I took communion at a certain church in College Station, it wasn't explained that you were suppose to hold on the bread and cup until the entire congregation had it. Then we were to take it together. The bread and cups got passed down the pew, I partook, and then the pastor said "As we take the bread together, we are united as the body of Christ. Let us together eat the body." Oops!

2) If someone asked you a question about why we do things in church, would you know the answer?

From the story, Davies wanted to know why we said "amen" to end the prayers. The person he asked didn't know, just that it was what you were suppose to do. (In case you don't know, it comes from the Hebrew meaning "so be it." We say it as an affirmation of our prayers.)

3) Would you know where to ask if you didn't?

Davies was able to find the answers to his questions (and indeed new life in Christ) because he was encouraged to attend one of the classes at the church. If a visitor was in your church, would you know where to take them if they wanted to know more? Do you know where various Sunday school classes are, or at least where the information booth is?

Though probably not the intent of the author, this article reminds us of the influence we have as parishioners sitting in the pew.

Time Slips Away

The song Ain't it Funny how Time Slips Away, has been recorded by many artists. I am familiar with some like Willie Nelson and Dave Matthew's Band, but my favorite version is by Al Green and Lyle Lovett.

Amazingly enough, you can hear a copy of this version at this website. The lyrics are available online as well.

The story in the song is a guy meets an old girlfriend of his. He asks her about her new boyfriend and comments that the line about loving him until the end of time is the same thing that she told him. They leave and he mentions that he will probably see her in the future some time, and to remember that someday, she will going to pay.

The reason I like the Lovett/Green version is three fold, Green's voice, Lyle's my favorite artist, and the big band sound. Lovett and Green are backed up by Lyle's Large Band. The sound is amazing.

I also am captured by the concept of time slipping away.

The past few weeks, I don't even know how many, I have been doing some temporary work. I am enjoying it, I am involved in something that I enjoy, camping. Time has slipped away. I don't even know how long it has been. I wake up in the morning, go to work, come home, eat dinner, read, sleep, repeat. No wonder time slips away.

I cannot cause time to slow down. I have always wanted to though. When I was younger, I thought it would be cool to have the power to make time stop for how ever long I needed it to. This was mainly so I could finish my homework without losing any fun time.

A lot of times, when I am going some place I know I will really enjoy, I think about how in just a matter of time, I will be leaving that place. So far, I have left every place I went to, except for the coffee shop I am currently at. In just a few minutes, I will be leaving here too.

Time slips away.

I can't figure out how to hang on to things, because everything I have done, except writing this post, has ended. This too will end in just a few minutes. Perhaps the best solution is given by Lawrence Millman. When one adventure ends, the only thing there is to do is start another one.

I am off to start another adventure. Time will be slipping away.

A poem!

A walking contradiction.
A dreamer without reality.
A doer with nothing to do.
An Indian with out a tribe.
A 19th Century cowboy without a horse or cow.
A drifter who is tied down to nothing.
A romantic in philosophy,
lacking in life.
Stand up! Go out and live!
Bring your dreams to life!
The past is history,
so make it become the present.
Release yourself from nothing,
to be who you want to be.
To no longer be
a walking contradition.

He was knocking on the door, but I answered the phone

Samuel was born to Hannah. Hannah had tried to conceive before, but was barren. She prayed fervently before the Lord and she was granted her petition and she had a son. Because the Lord granted her request, she offered Samuel to the service of the Lord. She took him to the temple to be raised and serve the Lord.

One night, Samuel was lying down in the temple near the ark of God. The ark represented God's dwelling place on earth. While Samuel is laying there, he hears "Samuel!" Thinking it was Eli, the priest, he gets up and walks to Eli and says "here I am." Eli sends him away, saying he didn't call him. A little bit later, Samuel hears "Samuel!" and once again goes to Eli. Eli sends him away, saying that he didn't call him. A third time, Samuel hears "Samuel!" and gets up again and goes to Eli. Realizing that it is God who is calling Samuel, Eli sends him away and tells him that next time he hears the voice, to say "Speak, Lord, for your servant hears." God calls out to Samuel again and Samuel responds appropriately. God then speaks to Samuel, giving him a message of what is to come.

Samuel heard from God because he listened to God. Have we taken the time to listen to God? When we want to listen to someone, do we remain distracted and ignore them or do we turn off distractions and focus solely on that person and their message? Why should we do differently when God talks? Have we taken the time to listen to God?

On the Road with a Friend

This past weekend, I went on a trip with a friend of mine. The trip was a day trip, or perhaps I should say night trip. We left about noon and got back at 2AM.

The trip was a lot of fun. We first went to the McDonald Observatory in Fort Davis. There we toured the facilities and saw the telescopes. That evening, we participated in their Star Party. We learned how to use star charts, the constellations, the stories told about the constellations, and got to use telescopes to see objects in the sky such as planets, craters on the moon, and nebulas.

After we finished at the observatory, we went to Marfa and saw the Marfa Lights. We spent about an hour there and watched the lights as they came and went, changed colors, and moved.

The best part of the trip though was being with my friend.

What is Church?

Many of us learned the song as a youngster in Sunday school.

The Church is not a building, the Church is not a steeple
The Church is not a resting place, the Church is the people.
I am the Church, you are the Church, we are the Church together!
All who follow Jesus, all around the world, Yes We're the Church together!

That is probably a pretty good explanation of what The Church is, a community of believers who follow Jesus. Then why do we always think of church as a building or a worship service? Why do we leave the people out of it?

Think of a normal church service at your church. If it is like most I have attended, it consists of some songs, passing the offering plate, a reading from the scripture, a prayer lead by someone, and a sermon from the pastor. This is how we most often experience church, sitting in the pew, listening to someone else, barely participating. If you were not there one Sunday, would "church" still happen?

To me, most churches seem almost like you are just attending a play or listening to a lecture. Surely we can do better than this.

I feel that Church should be more communal. We often find this in either small groups or Sunday school. At the church I am currently attending, I am not finding community through these things. I attended Sunday school for a short while, but stopped because the group I was with wasn't communal. Members came irregularly, the teachings wasn't very strong, the group was made up mainly of married couples with children and the social activities reflected that, and I wasn't been spiritually fed. For about 9 months, we had a bible study made up of people in my "social" group, young single adults. We met and had fellowship and bible study. We struggled in finding more fellowship activities, but we never had a staff member to help us and we were disbanded for being "too small." The small group had great potential, even if we were small, but unfortunately we didn't receive the support we needed from the church. The only place I have found community in the church is in singing in the church choir. However, our purpose is to sing. This is a good thing, but it does not develop me in the same way that a bible study would. It isn't wrong, just different.

In Sunday worship, I do not find fellowship or community. I find myself sitting with people, but not knowing them. Hearing a message, but not having it delivered by someone who knows me and knows how it would apply to me. I want to be with people who are of a similar mind, growing together. I don't want to be passive! I want to be part of the Church, not just meeting in a church.

Putting it to the Test

A few posts ago, I wrote about wanting to yell really loud and see if it would cause everything to fix its self.

I tried this over the weekend. I was leaving a wedding and had had a bad day and had kind of ignored some friends. I wasn't mad at them, just in a bad mood. They probably didn't even notice. Anyway, I left the wedding and the entire time this was on my mind. I was frustrated with myself for ignoring my friends and for being in a bad mood and decided to try to yell to see if it would all be fixed. And yell I did. When I finished, nothing changed except the soreness of my throat. So I did the only thing to fix it, I turned around and spent some time with my friends.

Don't Stop at the Beginning of the Race!

This week, Donald Haynes has a column in the United Methodist Reporter. You can read the entire article here.

The article is titled, Reclaiming the experience of 'being saved.' It begins with a look at the growth of the early Methodist church. The growth was because Methodist focused on being saved! As Haynes writes, they learned that Christ was their savior from sins and were discipled in the ordering of their lives by following Jesus.

This pattern was important to John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist movement. Wesley believed that all people could come to know God. A Calvanistic view point would be that only the elect are able to be saved. On the other end of the spectrum is Arminianism which states that all people can be saved. All people sin and are in need of a savior. However, because of our state, we cannot come to God. However, as we were yet sinners, Christ died for us and God's grace is freely given to us. In Methodist theology, this is called prevenient grace, sometimes described as the hound of heaven, from a poem of the same name. John Wesley was big on all being able to come to God and began his ministry preaching to the lowest of the low, the miners in England.

Another element of Methodistism is what happens after you are "saved." Salvation is a process, not just a moment of conversion. The moment of conversion would be when we find we have faith. Paul called this being justified. Arminius and Wesley called it prevenient grace. But that isn't the end, just the beginning! We must persevere and not let our faith be in vain.

This is where a lot of debate in Christianity occurs, the relationship between faith and works. I do not think it should be. I think first and foremost, we must agree that it isn't humans who have to judge who gets into heaven and who doesn't. The Bible is quite clear that we are saved by faith. Reading Romans 4 or Hebrews 11 will show you this. However, we will also see that the story of salvation doesn't end there. We see in Romans 5 & 6 and Hebrews 11 that action follows. By faith, Abraham left his home. By faith, Abraham offered up his only son to God. By faith, Moses led the Israelites across the Red Sea. By faith, the walls of Jericho fell. By faith, the prostitute in Jericho protected the spies and was not killed. By faith, Peter walked on the water. By faith, Paul was able to see again. By faith, he was delivered from those who sought to kill him and lowered by basket. James tells us that works shows us our faith is genuine. God's gift to us is so great, it requires us to give it away.

There can be no set number of "works" that must be required in order to "earn" salvation. Salvation is not earned. It is a gift of God. But if we have received God's grace, we will respond and act. The adulterous woman is told by Jesus to go and sin no more. He tells another to sell his belongings and follow him. We will respond when we have received God's grace.

I have often told people that the bible talks about two things, how to become a Christian, and what to do once you become one. I think a better description would be: 1) God loves you. 2)How to love. We love because God loved us first.

Another portion of Arminianism and Methodism (though most pry don't know it) is that salvation can be lost. I do not believe this to be true. I think it is more an issue of just saying you believe and then not changing anything is a sign that your faith was not true.

Arminius and Wesley believed that if we do not act on our faith, we could lose it. An example of this would be found in a parable of Jesus.
Matthew 12: 43-45:

"When an evil spirit comes out of a man, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, 'I will return to the house I left.' When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that man is worse than the first.

If we purify ourselves of sin but do not fill it with anything, sin will fall right back in and we will be worse off than before.

In my life, I have been in dozens of United Methodist churches and heard dozens of United Methodist pastors preach. I have been actively involved in 3 UM churches, the others were just a Sunday service. Rarely have I seen both of these issues addressed by the church.

The first UM church I was actively involved in had these elements, but not in the Sunday service. I had these two elements in the youth group. It was there I learned about God, faith, how to study the bible, and how to live it out. Rarely in the Sunday service did I hear about these things.

The second UM church I was involved in had these elements. They were in the Sunday service and in small groups, bible studies, etc...

The third UM church I was involved in did not have these elements. I rarely heard them in the Sunday service and haven't found small group or bible study. I helped to start a small bible study group, but we were disbanded by the church because we were "too small."

In the majority of other UM churches that I have attended services in, I have rarely heard these elements. I rarely hear the gospel. I rarely hear the need of continuing in our faith. I often leave not really sure what I heard. When was the last time that I heard sin was bad? In the third UM church I was involved in, I heard it once. And the pastor even said he didn't like talking about sin. Those who are not sick are not in need of a physician!

God changes lives. God rescues of from the bottom of the pit we have thrown ourselves into and dusts of off and gives us a new chance. This new chance comes with his help and his guidance. How will we know we are even in the pit if noone tells us? As John wrote in chapter 1 of his gospel, the Light shined in the world but the dark did not recognize it. God has decided to allow us to play a roll in spreading the Gospel. When Phillip, as described in the 8th chapter of Acts, came across the eunuch reading from the prophets, the eunuch said that he couldn't understand unless someone helped him. We all play a roll in this, the church plays a huge roll as well.

When I leave church and have not heard the gospel, what did I attend it for? When I can sit in a church for years and never hear how to be saved or what I should do once I am saved, why am I in the church? Is it any wonder why the population of the United Methodist Church is shrinking?

We must return to our roots. We must return to talking about sin and that it is bad! We must return to talking about Jesus and his love for us! We must return to talking about salvation and accepting the free gift of God. We must return to to talking about how to live as a Christian, and not letting the evil spirits return and find an empty house.

Don't stop at the beginning. Having faith is just the beginning of living by faith.

Stranger in a Strange Land in the Midst of Strangers

This past Sunday, I attended church at Grace Bible Church in College Station at the Southwood Campus. The entire service was really good, I drew a lot out of all of it. However, here we will focus on one portion of the message.

Blake Jennings gave the message on being in the world, not of the world. The text was John 17:11-18.

11 I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name--the name you gave me--so that they may be one as we are one. 12 While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled. 13 "I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. 14 I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. 15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it.
17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.

This reminded me of one of my favorite songs, which I have shared before, Leon Russel's Stranger in a Strange Land. This looked like a good opportunity to once again share the song!


For one portion of the sermon, Blake focused on verse 16, saying that this world is not our home. We are strangers here.

This world, in the beginning, was created as our home. We see that in Genesis 1. However, because of human's choosing to sin, the devil was allowed to take control of this world. Jesus calls the devil the prince of this world in John 14:30.

For the time being, this world is not our home. We are made to be with God, which means that as long as the world is broken with sin, we are designed to be with God in his house. Jesus tells us this in John 14: 2,3: 

In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.

Jesus tells us two important things in these verses. One, we have a place in God's house prepared for us. Two, he is coming back.

Until the time of his return, we are strangers in a strange land. We are to follow His authority in how we live our life, not the authority of society. I will live my life differently than many. I will not look like everyone else. I will live for God in preparation for His return. I will be a stranger in this strange land.

Trials and Tribulations

Yesterday I attended church at Central Baptist in Bryan, TX. It was my first time to attend services there. A friend of mine had invited me to go.

The church is a huge church. Services meet in a large auditorium with theater seats. The praise portion of the service was led by a full choir and band, with songs sung by the congregation and a few solos, including one done on a harp.

The message was taken from 2nd Timothy, 1:3 "I thank God whom I serve, as did my ancestors with a clear conscience, as I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day." The message was about how knowing if a trial is because of sin we committed or something God is allowing me to go through for another reason. An example of each type would be, am I going through something because I deserved it like Ananias and his wife because of sin, or because God is allowing me to go through it like Job.

Ananias and his wife’s story is recorded in Acts 5.

Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. With his wife's full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles' feet. Then Peter said, "Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? Didn't it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn't the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied to men but to God." When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened. Then the young men came forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him. About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. Peter asked her, "Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?" "Yes," she said, "that is the price." Peter said to her, "How could you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also." At that moment she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband.

This is certainly a strange story to us, but illustrates the point quite vividly that sin has consequences! It seems that Ananias may have been told by the Holy Spirit to give the money to the church, but decided with his wife to only give a portion. As a result of this, they both lost their lives.

Job’s story is recorded in the Old Testament book, Job. At the beginning of the story, God is telling the devil about how righteous Job is. The devil says that he can cause Job to curse God, so God allows the devil to tempt Job. All of Job’s possession are destroyed. His family is killed, and he is left alone. He sits in ash and sackcloth mourning, but does not accuse God of wrong doing. Job has three friends who come to visit him after these tragedies. Each friend takes a turn speaking to Job, trying to convince him that these tragedies had to occur because of something that he did. Job continues to say that he has lived how God has wanted him to live. At the end of the story, God speaks to Job and his friends, reminding them that He is God and they are not. He has sovereignty and rewards Job for his faithfulness by restoring his wealth two fold. Job’s friends are condemned and saved by the prayers and sacrifice of Job.

Both people went through trials, but both had different reasons for entering the trials.

The pastor started the message with a story of John the Baptist. John of course preached about Jesus, pointed him out when he was in the crowd as the lamb of God, called out the Pharisees, and baptized Christ. However, when he was in prison, he sent a message to Jesus asking if he was indeed the Christ. Christ responds to tell John what his followers have seen, and then continues to praise John before the crowd. The point was the show that when we go through trials, we need, and it is OK to ask, for assurance from God.

He said that the scripture verse showed 3 things we can look at to see what is the cause of our trial. Now at first glance, well, anytime I read the scripture until after the sermon, I didn't see these 3 points at all. But sure enough, they were there. Now 2nd Timothy is Paul's last letter. He is in prison in Rome for the 2nd time. As he writes in the letter, he is alone except for Luke. The pastor pointed out that Paul had a good relationship with the church in Rome, yet none of them seem to want, or are able, to come to him during his 2nd and final imprisonment. Shortly after the letter is sent, Paul is beheaded by the orders of Nero, emperor of Rome.

The first thing we can observe from the verse is from the portion that reads "I thank God whom I serve”. Paul uses the word charis for thanks, which means grace and that which affords joy. So Paul is saying he has grace in God, that he has joy in God, things are good between him and God. So the first thing we need to look at is our relationship with God. Is it OK? Are we having a good relationship with God? Are we spending time with Him? Is he a priority in our life?

2nd, "as did my ancestors." The pastor said we should ask if we are living a Christian life like those who have gone before us? Paul is saying that he is serving God the same way as Moses and Aaron, Abraham Isaac and Jacob, David and Solomon, served God. Now of course we are all unique and will serve in different ways, but will have similar characteristics. He mentioned as an example, when he was a young pastor, he looked at older pastors who had gone before and tried to model his walk after their walk. We can look to others that have gone before as an example of people who have successfully run the race. Paul tells us in 1st Corinthians 11:1 to “follow me as I follow the example of Christ.”

3rd, "with a clear conscience." Do we have a clear conscience? Is the Spirit telling us that there is something in our life that we need to change? The Holy Spirit is promised to all believers and serves to convict, teach, and encourage us. Often when we find ourselves in sin, even though we may try to rationalize it in our mind, the spirit will convict us.

If we can answer these things and say that our relationship with God is good, we are following in the footsteps of those who have gone before, and the Spirit is not convicting us of sin, then we can know that the trial is not caused by our sin. Job's friends told him that his trial was his fault. When he looked at his life, he knew he hadn't done anything to bring this upon himself and God responded that he hadn't and judgment was brought upon the friends for accusing Job of having brought the trial on his life.

And if we are right with God, we will overcome our trial. Either God will see us through the trial, or he will redeem us in the trial. Job was seen through his trial and his holdings were restored to twice as before. Stephen was redeemed through his trial. The pastor gave imagery of Stephen's death and Paul's death, saying they went from seeing the face of their oppressors in one instance, to the next seeing the face of Christ receiving them. Stephen was stoned because of his faith and testimony of God. In the audience, was a young man named Saul who gave his approval of the stoning. A man who would later see the risen Christ, who would later be known as Paul, and would himself be killed because of his faith and testimony of Christ.

Jesus promises that as we go through life, we will have trials because we follow him. We can know that these trials are not from our sin by looking at our life and listening to the Spirit. We can then take comfort in the knowledge that God will deliver.